Author Question: The great multimillionaire Rich Mahn is building a new mansion on a steep bluff overlooking a ... (Read 21 times)

ARLKQ · **on:** Jul 15, 2018

The great multimillionaire Rich Mahn is building a new mansion on a steep bluff overlooking a languid river below ... or, at least he could look over the river if it weren't for all the trees in the way.

Whipping out his cell phone, he calls a local landscaping company and has all of the trees ripped out and the steep slope smoothed back into place. Several months later, Rich is making another phone call, this time to a construction company. It seems that the bluff is eroding away at an alarming rate and the ground that his new house is sitting on is being undermined. What event(s) led to the mass wasting at Rich's house and why?
What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What role does fire play in making mass wasting more severe during subsequent rains?

What will be an ideal response?

nixon_s · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 15, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: There are actually three triggers in this situation. First, Rich Mahn is building a large mansion on a steep bluff, which is overloading the slope with weight. Second, vegetation was removed, which not only disturbs the land surface when it is ripped out, but eliminates roots that are holding the slope in place. Third, after the vegetation was removed, the slope was smoothed back into place and probably oversteepened.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Fire can bake the soil to make it more water-repellent, which leads to mudslides.